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Sexist rants reveal blind eye to misogynist culture

Michelle Law

"There's a general sense of revulsion towards even the word "feminism" and an eagerness to distance oneself from it."

Living up to their reputation as charming gentlemen, Young Liberal Club members at Melbourne University recently found themselves in hot water, when their slew of misogynist, racist and homophobic Facebook message threads were leaked to the media.

In the messages, Germaine Greer was the target of sexual abuse, Tara Moss, it was said “should only be on TV if she is in a bikini”, and former prime minister Julia Gillard was labelled a “twat” because apparently Young Liberals hail from 17th century England. And finally, all feminists were declared U-G-L-Y.

After this leak came another, with the vice-president of Swinburne University Liberal Club resigning after he was found posting a series of homophobic and sexist comments about women’s bodies on Facebook.

“Any comments were off the cuff remarks which were not to be taken seriously,” he said in a statement.

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Sure, these rants may seem isolated and insignificant in the greater scheme of things — something we can shrug off as “bro culture” in universities, or boys just being boys, but these instances feed into and are indicative of a more sinister discourse on anti-feminism among young people, both at home and abroad.

As evidenced by the Young Libs in question, anti-feminist sentiments are increasingly shared online. On the popular Tumblr blog Women Against Feminism, female users submit photos of themselves holding placards stating their personal reasons for opposing feminism. “I don’t need feminism because I don’t see women as weak and pathetic victims of the non-existent patriarchy,” reads one example. “I don’t need feminism because I don’t have to push men down to feel equal to them” reads another.

I first identified as a feminist in middle school, when my older brother asked me if I believed in feminism. “I think women should have their rights and stuff but I’m not marching around like, “Rah Rah Rah feminism!” I said.

My brother laughed and asked me if I believed that men and women should have equal rights. I told him of course; anything else would be crazy. He explained to me that feminism was about women’s rights rising up to meet the rights of men. It wasn’t about taking over society, but making things just, and I didn’t need to go out marching if I didn’t want to.

If we’d never had that conversation, I imagine my attitude towards feminism would more closely resemble those of the young girls I meet in my improvisation classes, or at my local cafe. Progressive girls who don’t consider themselves feminists and would probably cringe if you labelled them as such.

It’s hard to breach that barrier of disinterest and doubt. People have been made to feel at odds with feminism simply because they don’t understand it, and others haven’t bothered or cared enough to clarify what its various ideologies and movements stand for. And when misinformed people make false assumptions, few people make an effort to constructively counteract them because doing so would be awkward.

There’s a general sense of revulsion towards even the word “feminism” and an eagerness to distance oneself from it. And social media, as those scampish Young Libs discovered, can be the perfect place for people to vent and find community over harmful stuff like sexism and anti-feminism.

And while the Young Libs in question should absolutely be held accountable for their actions, it’s difficult to stay informed — and brave — when you’re flooded with public examples of strong female figures being torn down by sexist attacks, followed by the vilification of those who stand against sexism.

Sometimes people genuinely oppose the equal rights of men and women. And other times, people make stupid comments that don’t reflect their opinions because they want to fit in, which is far more disturbing than any hate speech.

Our society’s vitriolic attitudes towards women and feminism is intimidating and sometimes frightening, and as an impressionable student, still forming a view about the world, whose side would you take?

Yes, misogyny and anti-feminism exists within Australia, on social and political levels. We live in a culture where sexist behaviour is allowed to germinate. But if it already exists within the mindsets of young Australians and potential future leaders, how will we ever progress?

Michelle Law is a writer and screenwriter.

49 comments so far

Anyone who has gone to university knows that the Young Liberals are predominately male, sexist, racist, homophobic. They are more prejudice than the actual Liberals and their level of self-entitlement is bred into them the moment they attend private preschools, live in a little conclave of privilege with the same people and then emerge at university and can't understand why not everyone is just like them.

Commenter

hmmm

Date and time

August 16, 2014, 12:54AM

Young liberals...old liberals.....there all the same.

These puppets of big business are our masters.

We are not worthy. We are leaners.

We must be obedient to our sirs and dames, lords and ladies.

The media will tell us how to think.

Commenter

Tadd

Date and time

August 16, 2014, 9:05AM

You're right. Conservatives and the upper class have a complete monopoly on misogyny and chauvinism.

Now that I think of it, I have never heard a member of the working class wolf-whistle a woman, launch off on a racist tirade, or call a woman a 'slut'. Nor have there been any cases of a man who votes Labor or Green being involved in sexual assault or domestic violence. Ever.

Commenter

Spaniel

Date and time

August 16, 2014, 10:59AM

Goodness me when are women going to apologise for centuries of having life easy. So glad the modern women has finally despited to pull their weight. I am so happy now to have time with my children and easy time away from work doing the chores around the house.

This is not misogynistic just a simple FACT that I am now enjoying more time with my children and don't have slave at work for so long. Pity all males are yet to enjoy this privilege. Come on the rest of you girls pull your socks up

Commenter

abc

Date and time

August 16, 2014, 12:11PM

Isn't it strange that you paint all Liberals University people with a media comment when a number of these liberals are in fact women. I also take it that you have never been in a room or factory or office with a majority of women and heard them discuss what they would like to do to the young service man or business man , or the labourer in his shorts in summer, but then that is only having fun. The basic difference being if a woman wants to be leered at it, that is ok, if not ,that is misogamy or sexist. Gillard tried to marginalise Abbott as a misogynist even though he has only women in his immediate family and a lesbian sister who he holds in high esteem.

Commenter

Taffy

Location

Ingleburn

Date and time

August 16, 2014, 12:21PM

Taffy, spaniel, we expect those in leadership position to have higher standards. (With the exception of young liberals right...)

That they can feel so superior above everybody, then resort to the basest of standards proves how low they really are.

Commenter

Tadd

Date and time

August 16, 2014, 1:57PM

These aren't young kids as someone else commented, they're young adults. No doubt, they're looking to lead our country in the future. They'll need to grow up a lot, and embrace those who aren't white male and privileged. With only one cabinet member of Abbott's government being a woman, they're hardly getting a good example from those they wish to emulate.

Commenter

meatatarian

Date and time

August 16, 2014, 4:10PM

The Liberal Party, young and old, are a bastion of racism & sexism. They are socially backward, unable to do anything without resorting to denigration & stereotyping.

Commenter

Hetty

Date and time

August 16, 2014, 5:13PM

I would just like to remind everyone that you shouldn't take anything the Liberals say seriously. Greatest bunch of clowns I've ever seen.

Commenter

Party Stooge

Date and time

August 16, 2014, 5:20PM

I'm pretty moderate and i'm pretty sure there are tossers from all facet of cultures, not only young liberals or whatever. Of course that's my opinions, just like yours, without much objective assessment!